Shaft for golf clubs and the like



Nov. 6, 1928.

Filed Nov- V, 1925 llll'f l \y Q. QJ

vPatented Nov. 6, 1,928.

`UNITEDsrarss PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD @.BARRETT, or WILME'ITE, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon rIo BARBARITEooarona- 'iIoN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

SHAFT FOR GOLF CLUBS AD THE LIKE.

Application led November 7, 1925. Serial No. 67,531. i'.

This invention relates to improvements in shafts., particularly adapted,though not necessarily-limited in its use for golf clubs, andone' of theobjects of the invention'is to provide a-'sliteriibodying a core and animproved `gouter shell of non-metallic composition of matter for thecore, the portion of the 'casing orshell intermediate thevhead of theclub and the handle grip being-free from the core, whereby there will becreated a certain free motion or action4 between the core and the outershell or casing, with the result that the whipping action of theclubwill loe greatly increased. Y

A further object is to provide an improved shaft of this character inwhich the outer shell or casing and the core will be fastened at the topor grip end of the shaft against relative rotary movement therebyproducing a golf club shaft having the proper stiffness and flexibilityand at the Sametime theshaft will be provided with a maximum amount of Ytorque.

A further object is to provide an improved shaft of this characterembodying a tubular 'casing of non-metallic composition and a core whichis telescoped into the' casing, the the tube and core being fastenedtogether at both ends against relative rotary movement, the intermediateportions being free from each other whereby freedom of action of theshaft will be provided, the outerfshell or casing by being fastened tothe hea'dfof the club will produce the necessary torque and at the sametime will permit of theuse-of a rigid core in the construct-ion of theshaft.

With such a construction 4the shaft will not only be strengthened andre-enforced. but the required flexibility of the shaft will not beinterfered with and at the same time the shaft will be of the desired orrequired weight and rigidity.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful obiects as will appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty insubstantially the construction, combination and arrangement ofthe several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shownin the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, and in which 0y v Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the club end of a shaftconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal ysectional view 55 ofthe handle or grip endof the shaft. y Figure 2f* is a detail sectional view on linie .2L-2a,Figure 2. f l

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l of the outer non-metallic casingor covering of the shaft, showing the same secure-d to the head. Figure4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of one end of a tubularmetallic reenforcing core. I 5

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view 65 of the head end of anotherform of the invention.

igure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken 'on line 6 6, Figure 3.

` 'Figure 7 is a transverse sectionalvview of 70 a solid re-enforcingcore.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view showing oneform of fastening for securing the re-enforcing core and casing togetherand for securing the casing to the head of the club.

Figure 9 is a detail side elevation of two of the fastening members.

Figure 10 is a side elevation o'fanotherone of the fastening members. 30

Figure 11 is a side elevation of still another one of the fasteningmembers.

Referring more particularly to the drawing thenumeral 15 designatesgenerally an outer tubular shell or casing of any desired diameter andpreferably of a tapered configr uration., This casing is constructed ofa non- 4 metallic material, preferably a composition 'of matter known asas by means of a suitable. cement or fastening on glue.

Telescoped into and encased within the casing 15 is a rte-enforcing core.17 which is preferably tapered and tubular andconstructed f of metal. vThecore 17 is secured to the casing 1'5 at the extremitiesthereof in anydesired or suit-` able manner and the portions of the 'casing' andcoreintermediate the securing `means are free from each other so as topermit of a certain free motion or action between the core and the outercasing or tube. At the grip or handle end of the shaft suitablefastenlng devices 18 may be provided such as pins or fastening rivetswhich pass transversely through slots 18 in the casing and core topermit of a relative longitudinal movement of the core and casing butwill pre` vent a relative rotary movement thereof. The adjacentextremity of the core is preferably closed by means of a bumper element19 secured in position in any suitable manner.

The other extremity of the core and casing are secured together in anydesired or suitable manner and against relative rotary movement,preferably as follows. The lower extremity of the core 17 is closed asat 20 and is provided with an aperture 21 opening therethrough andhaving left hand threads therein. The lower extremity 'of the casing 15is preferably provided with spaced lugs or extensions 22 which areadapted to co-operate with correspondingr lugs or projections 23 on ananchor member 24, the latter being provided with radially projectingteeth or ribs 25. The head of the club 16 is provided with an opening26. This opening 2G is preferably provided with recesses 27 adapted toreceive the ribs'or projections 25 and thereby lock the element 24against relative rotary movement with respect to the head 16. Theelement 24 is adapted to be inserted into the opening 26 so that theribs or projections 25 will enter the recesses 27 and so that the lugs23 thereon will interlock with the lugs 22 on the lower end'of thecasing 15. The lower extremity of the core 17 preferably terminatesshort of the lower extremity of the casing 15, and a fastening device28, preferably in the form of a screw having left hand threads and ahead129 is provided for connecting the member or element 24 with thecore 17. The body of the member 28 passes loosely through the element 24and is threaded into the recess 21 in the end 20 of the core 17, thehead 29 resting against the face of the element 24 so that when-theelement 28 is rotated it will be threaded into the opening 21 of the end2070i the core 17 and there will be a tendency of the member 28 toimpart a relatively longitudinal movement to ,the core 17 and casing 15to draw the two together and cause them to be rigidly or tirmly heldwith respect. to eachother. The left hand threads in the screw 18 a'ndin the aperture 21 in the end 20 of the core 17 will have a tendency totighten the screw and draw the core and casing together when the head 16receives an impact, whereas if the threads were right hand threads suchan action of the head would have a tendency to loosen the screw which isnot desirable.

Threaded into the member 28 is a screw 30, the extremity 31 of `whichco-operates with inclined faces 32 in the end of the member 28, thelatter being split as at 33 to permit the same to be slightly expandedand thereby lock the member 28 in its adjusted position.

If desired a covering 34 of any suitable material may be provided on thegrip end of the shaft.A

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and'5, the core 17 istelescoped into the casing 15 and the lower extremity of the core 17 issecured to the lower extremity of the casing15 and both are secured tothe head 16 of the club in any suitable manner. preferably by meansoffastening devices 35 in the form of pinsor rivets which pass through thehead and through the core and casing, thereby preventing relative rotarymovement of these parts.

In this form of the invention the recess 27 in the end of the club maybe closed by a suitable plug 36.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 7 the core 37 is of a solidconstruction suchas wood and is adapted to be telescoped into andencased within the shell or casing 15 and the extremities of the coremay be secured in a manner similar to the manner as described inconnection with the form of the invention shown in Figure 5, or may befastened within the head in any desired or suitable manner.

lVith this invention there is provided a golf club shaft having an outertubular shell of non-metallic material which is loose or separate fromthe core intermediate the extremities of the shaft, the shell and corebeing fastened together at the extremity of the s aft and againstrelative rotary movement., with the result that there will be provided ashaft for golf clubs having the proper stiffness and flexibility and yetthere will be provided a maximum amount of torque.

By reasonV ofthe fact that the outer shell or casing is free from thecore intermedlate the fastening means at the extremities of the corethere will be created a certain free action or motion between the coreand the outer tube or casing. If the casing and core are securedtogether intermediate the extremities,v or the fastening means at theextremities, there would not be produced the free fiexible motion oraction that is necessary in a golf club, with the result that thewhipping action of the club would be impaired, but by maintaining thecore and casing detached from each other intermediate the fasteningmeans, the whipping action of the shaftwill be increased and at the sametime the necessary torque will be created and it will be possible toemploy a rigid core.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofllU the several parts, within theVV scope of the "gether, the portionsof the core and casing intermediate the said securing means being freefor slight relative movement.

2. A shaft for golf clubs embodying a tubular non-metallic casing, acore telescoped into and fitting within the casing, and means securingthe ends of the core and casing together, the portions of Ithe corel andcasing intermediate the said securing means being free for slightrelative rotary movement.

3. A. shaft for golf clubs embodying a:

tubular non-metallic casing, a hollow metallic core telescoped into andfitting within the casing, andv means securing the ends of the core andcasing together, the portions of the core and casing intermediate thesaid secur-' ing means being free for slight relative movement.

4. A shaft for golf clubs embodying a tubular non-metallic casing, ahollow metallic core telescoped into and fit-ting Within the casing, andmeans securing the ends of the core and casing together, the portions ofthe core and casing intermediate'the said securing means being free forslight relative rotary movement.

5. A shaft for golf clubs embodying a tapering tubular non-metalliccasing, a. tapering core telescoped into and fitting wit-hin the core,and (zo-operating means disposed at one end of the casing and core forsecuring the two together, the said means adapted to impart a relativelongitudinal movement to the casing and core.

6.-A shaft for golf clubs embodying a tapering tubular non-metalliccasing, a tapering core telescoped into and fitting Within the core, ahead secured to the said easing and into which head the casing and coretelescope, and co-operating` means disposed at one end of the casingandcore and housed Within the head for securing the casing and coretogether, the said means adapted to impart a relative longitudinalmovement to the casing and core.

7. A shaft for golf clubs embodying a tapering tubular non-metalliccasing, a hollon7 metallic tapering core telescoped into and littingWithin the core, and co-operating means disposed atone end of the casingand core for securing the two together, the said means adapted to imparta relative longitudinal movement to the casing and core.

8. A shaft for golf clubs embodying a. tapering tubular non-metalliccasing, a hollowr metallic tapering core telescoped into and fittingWithin the core, a. head secured to the said casing and into Which headthe casing and core telescope, and co-operating means disposed at oneend of the casing and core and housed Within the head for securing thecasing and core together, the said means adapted to impart a relativelongitudinal movement to the casing and core.

9. A shaft for golf clubs embodying a tubular tapering non-metalliccasing', a tapering core tclescoped into and fitting within the casing,means securing the extremities of` the casing and core together, theportion of the core intermediate t-he said securing means being free forslight relative movement, and a head into which one end of the casingand core telescope, the last recited end of the said casing beingsecured to said head.

l0. A shaft for golf clubs embodying a tubular tapering non-metalliccasing, a. hollow metallic tapering core telescoped into and fittingWithin the casing, means securing the extremities of the casing and coretogether, the portion of the core intermediate the said securing meansbeing free for slight relative movement, and a head into which one endof the ycasing and core telescope, the last recited end of t-he saidcasing being secured to said head.

4In testimony whereof I havel signed my name to this specification, onthis 4th day of November, A. D. 1925.

HAROLD G. BARRETT.

